Stadium Progress
hi,
if i were you i'd guess that almost nothing has happened since december. unfortunately/fortunately, it has....as i'm sure you all know we had a petition challenge by the "Save the Bannister Mall" group. that has come and gone and while the group would still like to bring some other action, i think we're okay. we're working with the state on the TIF. i know there is a lot of frustration on the phrase "60-90 days." me too. it's an unacceptable answer and it's also not a timeframe that we'd like to live with. we are pushing everyday to get the approval moved up. if the state acts in a short time frame we can start the process - land purchase, rat abatement, demolition, site prep, stadium construction. if they don't and the approval delays, we have a kansas site ready - cheaper, not as good of a location, but open by late 2009 - soccer 2010.
construction inflation sucks......it's caused us to look at a couple aspects of the building in more detail that we initially thought would be necessary. because of it, i've totally blown the 1/31 deadline i set on pictures. sorry. as i've said before, i just want to make sure the building we show is the one we build. it should be soon - let's blame ficklin.....:) (my first smiley face)
when i talk about the team i usually get crushed on these boards since i've been a soccer guy for all of 17 months. but here i go anyway.....we're going to be good. i'll eat the crow when it shows up, but we're going to attack and we're going to continue to build the team to do so. the plan is to have a very solid, deep group of attacking players; complimented by talented, young defenders. as of today, with all that's going around the world, we're on plan.
tell a friend to buy tickets.....they're cheap.....rh
Monday, February 18, 2008
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Always appreciate the update Robb.
ReplyDeleteI love how candidly everyone speaks on this blog. It makes the readers (or at least me) actually feel a part of the organization. I wish other KC Franchises would do something like this with their front office. Anyway, keep up the great work, this blog is the best! Any news on Ivan Trujillo?
ReplyDeleteThe first paragraph of this post is pretty disturbing to me. We just went through 6 months of torture getting the Bannister project through KCMO city council, and just like that we have a Kansas site ready? What about financing? Isn't that going to take at least another 6 months to get through whatever hoops it takes for some public financing? Don't forget about the more vocal NIMBY people in KS; there is no blight in JOCO so they aren't as willing to accept a billion dollar project in their neighborhood. Are we willing to dump the Bannister site just because the state is going to take a month or two to approve what looks to be a sure thing? Why isn't Lane4 already working on land acquisition and getting a contract ready on demolition? From what you are telling us, it appears all of that is on hold and that is a really uncomfortable feeling. All this time sitting around waiting for the state gives Tolbert time to get his next plan together, which will only cause more delays.
ReplyDeleteAnd pardon me if I feel less than cozy about the attacking style of the current roster.....we need at least two more forwards who can CONSISTENTLY score (not just in spurts like Eddie did last season). It seems lately that every other team has signed a foreign player or two to bolster their rosters. We have heard NADA. I hope there is ALOT going on behind the scenes on that issue. I know I'm not alone on that. Don't get me wrong--I appreciate the candor and your openness to communicate your thoughts with us, but damn, I feel more than a little nervous with 5 weeks left in preseason.
And by the way, why is there absolutely no media coverage of training camp? This is the time of year when we need to get the media on board....I am already tired of hearing about the Royals, and they just started camp yesterday. Call the TV stations everyday (and not just Metrosports), call Grathoff at the Star. Until the local media embraces this team, we are going to continue to be considered a minor league sport in this town.
OK, I feel better now. Have a nice day. :)
the state better not screw around with this, because i'll be damned if i have to drive to the kansas boonies.
ReplyDeletealso, robb, i don't mind the optimism, but maybe it'd be better served after our frontline actually puts in at least one goal in preseason.
Respectfully speaking, let me clean up my comments for anonymous.....
ReplyDeleteThere's no sitting and waiting going on right now. We have a 28-person team doing due diligence on that site every day, including stadium design, engineering, demolition planning, land acquisition negotiation, utility design, parking lot design, wetland design, retail marketing, etc. this does not even take in to account the over two years of public process, not 6 months, two years.
this is also true with other sites, because we have to have options if the governmental agencies don't respond favorably.
you are correct in that ks does not have blighted sites, but it certainly has greenfield sites which don't require demolition, rat abatement, utility shut-downs, etc. this makes the site much easier to develop.
nothing is on hold. we are not sitting around. don't be "disturbed". this is an all-consuming process, and you can trust me in the fact that we are working on it very hard....
Thanks for your clarifications, Robb. Everything you can do to put our collective minds at ease is a huge help!
ReplyDeleteRobb,
ReplyDeleteGlad to see the substantial commitment already made. A site grading package should be relatively easy to put out quickly. This way the the construction can begin while design and investigations continue.
I would point out that the Bannister area community is set on having the Wizards there.
It would be a huge huge huge let down if for what ever reason the Wizards walked away. PR repercussions would reverberate for a long time.
We are all just nervous about Tolbert. I totally get your construction cost escalation issue. Right now, with contractors a little down, we are seeing really competitive price bidding.
I think we/and 'The Trails' residents would all feel better if a small something was done on the site. Even a vague signboard with some kind of rendering. Maybe a token demo, a planting of the flag if you will.
FWIW no one I've spoken to in the Hickman area thinks we have seen the last of Tolbert.
I am scared t know how many rats are in Bannister mall. BTW, it is the year of the rat.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robb for the post and responses. Keep plugging away. Hopfully Tolbert will learn his place and just get out of the way. All he's doing is slowing progress SKC.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of progress just let me say that I rather have the stadium done right the first time then rushed to completion. For me, if the difference between spring 2010 or fall 2010 is taking care of few more details to make sure the stadium is perfect them by all means do it. (not that it's an issue, I'm just saying)
So Robb, you getting us Lopez? Please get us Lopez.
ReplyDeletei dont know, if the bannister idea somehow failed (god forbid) i wouldnt mind a stadium out by CAB or Kansas Speedway...
ReplyDeletethis cost escalation has to do with the roof, doesn't it? my recommendation is if you have to cut back on the roof, then don't do it at all right now. i'd rather have no roof than a lame, serve-no-purpose roof like they have in colorado and chicago.
ReplyDelete